Catenary progress

It has been awhile since I posted any progress on the catenary system.  I've been side tracked with other issues but I did manage to make some progress.

Got the double  catenary extended around the side wall and over the first lift bridge and meeting up with the 2nd bridge.  The bridge was the trickiest part of the installation.  The bridges are both lift bridges hinged at 1 end.

 Since the mainline catenary needed to end at the bridge I had to figure a way to overlap the catenary from the mainline and the catenary on the bridge so that there would be continuous pantograph contact  as the loco entered and exited the bridge.   The hard part was coming up with the right spacing and configuration of the catenary supports at either ends of the bridge such that the bridge could be opened without anything hitting the opposing supports or catenary.

Now I would like to say that I designed it all out on paper before building it and that once built from the plans  it all worked out fine.  Since most of you know me well enough to know that there is no way  I could do that I won't try to con you.

It was all trial and error, with ample amounts of each coupled with a scant bit of bourbon anxiety medication before arriving at the correct spacing and support configuration.

This is a short video of a PC GG1 pulling a 17 car consist under catenary power.  It ran smoothly around from the left rear of the room and around onto the 2nd bridge where the catenary ends and it ran out of power.  Note there are still some trimming of bolts, patching and painting that needs to happen.  I also discovered that the nuts that go on the bolts used to attach 1 piece of cat to the next extend below the catenary wire a tad which prevents the pantograph from smoothly gliding from one piece to the next.  I will simply grind the nuts to eliminate the issue.

The bridgework is built as a single unit so that I can remove it to gain access to the catenary supports in case I need to work on them. It is made to slide over the catenary supports. This is the start of the 2nd bridge.

Total of 17 cars most of which have some weight to them.  The GG1 did fine considering it is not a diecast body.

It appears the intermodal containers are a different size between MTH and Lionel.  The MTH containers clear the catenary with 1/8" to spare.   The Lionel containers need another 1/8".  Looks like I will be running some single stack intermodal cars.

And there are my filthy PC coal hoppers bringing up the rear.   I don't think these cars would be allowed at Hudson Coal even with its recent "aging".

Now that the bridge specs have been worked out the remainder of the catenary installation should go a lot quicker.   I have 5 conventional GG1's that I need to modify to allow selection of power source from either catenary or track via a slide switch.  That is pretty straight forward. 

Trial run under catenary

As you may know I have been working on building a live centenary system for my 2 upper mainlines.   I am building the catenary supports out of wood.  The wire is Marklin  HO catenary wire. Although they no longer manufacture it, there is plenty to be had from Germany.  I have been given lots of advice from a friend on the OGR forum who has a magazine quality large layout with all tracks under live centenary.  It has been running without trouble for  almost 18 years.   Without his help I would surely be in the crazy house by now trying to do this.

The biggest issue is dealing with the various height of the electrics.  I was told 5 1/8" from top of track to bottom of catenary is the sweet spot.   However, some of the pantographs on various engines do not have springs quite strong enough to exert the proper upward pressure on the catenary.  After some trial and error I found the perfect sized springs and have converted 2 GG1s.  One was MTH DCS PRR GG1 command controlled engine so it had operating pantographs which needed just a little more pressure.  The 2nd engine was a Williams full scale GG1.  It needed stronger springs.  I also installed a SPDT slide switch on it giving me the option to run from track or catenary power.    That is the engine seen in the video.

I only have about 15' of double track finished and have the bugs worked out and the process for the build so that all supports are the same height, centered and such

Thought I would dust off the blog and post a couple of photos and short video of a PC GG1 running under live catenary

This is the converted PC GG1. note there is exactly 1/8" to spare between the Lionel containers and the catenary.  Just purchased 4 new old stock MTH container cars and they do not fit under the catenary.  that problem is for another day. 

This is the PRR GG1 on the other mainline.

And a short video to record the momentous occasion. 

Train Show Acquisitions

On Saturday 1/21 I had the pleasure of spending the day accompanying Sir John to a local train that was in town.  This is always a highlight as there is always a good vendor showing at the show with lots of good finds followed up by lunch and then an ops session at John's.  We did get to meet our friend Matt from TN who usually makes the drive over for the shows.  That is always a bonus.  A group photo was taken and distributed to mark the occasion.

In spite of my grandson's admonition that I had way too many trains, I did manage to find some things that I simply could not live without. Besides he's back up north and won't know I bought them.

First purchase were these 2 brand new Lionel inter-modal cars complete with loads.  Being a firm believer in you get what you pay for I was leery about the great price.  But after careful inspection I bought both cars.  They are beautiful, very very large. but beautiful nonetheless.  However, being the deep planner that I am I never gave much thought to the overall height of the inter-modals as it relates to the catenary I am installing.  But after a very nervous and careful inspection and I discovered I have a full 1/8" distance between the tops of the cars and the bottom of the catenary wire.  Plenty of room. Whew !

Next find were 2 PS-2 Hoppers in Leigh Valley and Burlington Northern livery.  This will be a nice addition to my stable of scale cars.  Again, both are new and in perfection condition.

Next 2 cars were more of a great price for new old stock so I jumped on them.  The hopper will be sold off to the PC and re-lettered and numbered.

And now for the absolute best find of the show.  BTW should anyone have the slightest doubt that I am really just a "toy train" guy this purchase should cast aside any doubts.  While Hoschton does not have its own airport, this beauty will proudly hang in the sky flying over the HRC territory making endless loops.  A little know fact about Lionel Lines Airway.  They pioneered the way for mid-air refueling technology back in the bi-wing days so no landings are required.   This aircraft will soon be joined in the Hoschton sky by 2 Vietnam era U.S. Army Cobra Attack Gunships escorting 2 Huey Helicopters loaded with infantry troops with a scale 1:48 me inside cowering in the corner. The HRC's Department of Hoschton Homeland Security felt it prudent to provide this additional measure of security.

After enjoying a nice lunch John invited me back to the NYCTL for a decal design meeting and a small ops.  We are designing some new decal schemes and spent an hour working out some details.

We then proceeded to enter the newly expanded terminal yard where I got to put it thru its paces.  The yard is fabulous and big time fun operating it.   Should John ever expand his ops to include multiple operators, I am claiming 1st dibs on the Terminal Yard.

It was a great day to be a model train guy.  Meet with friends, buy trains and then run trains.  

P.C.C.M. #42

Greetings to All,

The Hoschton Railway Company is proud to announce it's periodic participation in the P.C.C.M Virtual Operations beginning in 2018.   While the HRC is a small regional railway company, we have been successful in attracting a number of new industries to the region in 2017.    The raw materials needed by the new manufacturing companies, and a far reaching customer base dictate the HRC's expansion and contractual interchange agreements with the N.Y.C.T.L., A.P.R.R. and KP&W railroads.

To: Southern Railroad
From: HRC West Side Terminal
Subject:  Departure of Train #PP23 to Southern RR North Terminal

West Side Terminal Out

PRR #9312 has been assigned switching duties for train PP23.   At the throttle is Senior Engineer Neal who has been agreed to engineer the maiden voyage.   Recently serviced #9312 is seen leaving the servicing area and being turned to head out to the West Side Terminal Yard.

Headed out to the main after getting turned around.

Headed past West Terminal Tower, a popular meeting spot for the locals to rail fan or to wave to passing family crew members.  Present today on the public bench islegendary local Hoschtonite Lazy Larry who whiles away the time watching trains and chewing the fat with anyone who will listen.  PC Ralph is tower operator for today's shift. 

Ralph alerts Engineer Neal and Conductor John of track crew finishing up emergency repairs.  Will be clear in 10 minutes. 

Clear track ahead Engineer Neal heads over to the Power and Light plant to pull 4 empties headed to Hudson Coal and to shove in 4 loaded coal hoppers.

 

 Shove in new loads

Head back to West Side Terminal Yard to pick up remainder of train headed to Southern.

Pick up remaining cars and head out to mainline.

 PRR SD45 #2470 power arrives for the trip to Southern.

 

  Onto the mainline headed south to the Southern RR interchange.

Christmas Acquisitions 2017

Santa Claus paid a visit to the HRC on Christmas Eve and left behind a large orange and blue colored box with a label addressed to Double E.   Upon awakening the next morning Double E was greatly surprised to see Santa had left him a present.  Thinking he likely had not been good enough in 2017 Double E made a valiant effort to be good and righteous during the waning days before Christmas.  Fully expecting coal Double E was astonished when he opened the orange box and discovered 2 Lionel full scale 87' boxcars lettered in the NYC livery.   Even more astonished was Double E's lifelong CFO who had a firm belief that Double E had a lock on a large lump of coal.

The cars are numbered 67288 and 67367.  The details and paint job are terrific and they are massive in size.

YouTube 86' NYC Boxcars

While no  public announcement has yet to be made, it is rumored that there is a local automobile  radio manufacturer getting ready to build a plant over on the west side of Hoschton.

Special credit to my train buds John, Neal and Ralph for showing me just what I was missing out on not having any 86 footers.

Construction begins on West Side Locomotive Service Area

Construction has finally commenced on the West Side Locomotive Service Facility and Industrial area.  Given the scope of this project the HRC senior executives felt the design of the entire area was beyond the expertise HRC's Sean O'Reilly, General Manger Property Development.  

After extensive research the board of the HRC approved the award of a design contract to the highly respected, but little known firm of J.Reynolds Spectacular Railroad Design and Consultation Services LLC.   The overall cost of the contract was extremely high but the board was finally able to decide to award the contract upon receipt of a case of 30 year old Irish Whiskey for each board member and 5 cases to the HRC's CEO Mr. Double E. 

First phase of development was the re-installation of the round table.  At the time of the initial installation the overall layout plan had not been finalized therefore the TT was surface mounted.

Location of the TT was finalized and work begun on recessing it into the layout.  The layout is built with 3/4" ply with 3/4" sound board on top of the ply. 

Removed the  soundboard and then installed some 1/4" spacers to bring the TT track level with the table top.

Spacers added and TT is recessed into layout.

 Reconnected to mainline.

Next phase is to readjust location of round house and install all of the stubs.

Unfortunately work  has slowed considerably due to the complexity of the tasks and the lack of professional on-site supervision.  One  of the reasons the HRC signed an overpriced contract with J. Reynolds Spectacular Railroad Design and Consultation Services  LLC (besides the cases of scotch) was a handshake agreement whereby J. Reynolds LLC personally assured HRC CEO Double-E that on-site supervision and consultation services would be provided upon request.   The  HRC has spent hours trying to make such a request but all our efforts of emails, phone calls, texts and Western Union telegraphs have failed to reach anyone at the firm.   If contact is not made within the next 48 hours CEO Double-E has instructed the HRC Legal Division to explore our options.   In the meantime work will continue at a diminished pace. 

Leigh Valley 44 Ton Switcher

While in PA. last month visiting friends, I  got a chance to goto a big Hobby Shop called Tracks and Rails  (I can't now remember if that is the exact name).  The place is huge and  has an amazing selection of 0-scale as well as other scales.   They had the biggest selection of locomotives on display I have ever seen.  My intent was not to buy a locomotive but to look for some coal hoppers.

I found the 2 hoppers pretty quickly and I was on the way to the counter to pay for them when I spotted 3 boxes of 0-scale decals on the counter in front of the locomotive display cases.  I could not pass that up so I stopped and started flipping thru the decals.  Found 2 sets of New Haven McGinnis paint scheme sets.  I was delighted.

About that time this very nice employee walked over to see if I needed assistance.  Told him I found what I was looking for, etc.  He then asked me if I wasn't interested in a locomotive because they were having a good sale and there were plenty to pick from.

I noticed that after I told him I had what I needed he looked somewhat downcast.  He was a young guy and I figured he was working his way through medical school or something by working at the shop on commission.   Even though I had no intention of buying anything else he said they had 2 very beautiful MTH Leigh Valley switchers.  My mind was immediately taken back to my new industrial area that Sir John made me build and I remembered I didn't have a cool switcher to service the industries.  I actually did have some switchers but not as nice as the Leigh Valley one.   The kid said they just got it in that morning and they expected it would be sold by the afternoon, they were in that much demand.  Holy cow, I just couldn't believe my good fortune to be in PA, in this store on the very same day this sure to be scarce switcher was on sale.   I had no choice but to buy it.

The following video is the maiden run of the switcher pulling a load of coal, pipe and coils, the latter 2 creations are Sir John's creations. Take note of the 2 new black NYC Coal Hoppers mid-way in the consist. 

On hand for the inaugural run was 1:87 Double-E, Double-E's personal assistant Ms. Easystreet, 1:87 Sir John as conductor,  1:87 Sir Ralph, Sir Brian and Sir Larry.  1:87 Sir Neal was invited to be here but the battery was dead on his corporate jet and it wouldn't start.  Walmart didn't have a replacement battery so he couldn't make it.